Bumper assembly for boats

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a bumper assembly for boats which is capable of easy installation and removal from a boat and which is capable of being placed at spaced and spaced points along the boat outer surface. The bumper system includes a continuous track positioned immediately below the flare of the gunwale of the boat extending from the forward section of the boat to the transome. Sliding blocks are positioned onto the track and slide therealong, the sliding blocks being locked in position by means of notches positioned in the track at space points therealong and a rotatable lever positioned in each slidable block to lock the block in position upon rotation of the lever. The block will remain locked due to the weight of the fender or bumper which is attached by means of ropes or the like to two adjacent levers.

United States Patent Lederer, Jr.

[451 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] BUMPER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS [72] Inventor: Milton Ronald Lederer, Jr., Box 63,

Lititz, Pa. 17543 [22] Filed: April 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 31,994

[52] 0.8. CI ..1l4/219 [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 21/04 [58] Field of Search ..114/218, 219, .5, 223, 230;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,473,505 10/1969 Brown ..114/230 2,665,869 1/ 1954 Samuels ..248/214 2,592,011 4/1952 Colston ..1 14/219 X 2,606,755 8/1952 Samuels ..114/219 X 3,055,335 9/1962 Gordon et al ..114/219 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. O'Connor Attorney-Jay M. Cantor ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a bumper assembly for boats which is capable of easy installation and removal from a boat and which is capable of being placed at spaced and spaced points along the boat outer surface. The bumper system includes a continuous track positioned immediately below the flare of the gunwale of the boat extending from the forward section of the boat to the transome. Sliding blocks are positioned onto the track and slide therealong, the sliding blocks being locked in position by means of notches positioned in the track at space points therealong and a rotatable lever positioned in each slidable block to lock the block in position upon rotation of the lever. The block will remain locked due to the weight of the fender or bumper which is attached by means of ropes or the like to two adjacent levers.

6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 5 SHEET E [If 2 Mwrow Qdwmo LE DEEE R.

BUMPER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS This invention relates to a bummper assembly for boats and, more particularly, to a bumper assembly comprising a continuous track extending along the side of the boat and slide locks movable and lockable thereon in predetermined position for attachment to bumpers and the like.

The use of bumper assemblies and the like for boats has been well known in the art as exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Tritt 3,065,724; Erkert 3,019,758 and Ong 2,990,802. The bumpers of the prior art as exemplified by the above patents have been secured directly to the sides of the boat and thereby provided a permanent installation. The prior art devices were not aesthetically pleasing since they could not be removed when not in use and were incapable of easy vertical and/or horizontal movement along the side of the boat for accommodation to different pier heights and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the above described problems of the prior art are overcome by the use of a bumper assembly which comprises a continuous track extending from the transome of the boat forward toward the bow. The track includes depressions at predetermined points therealong and includes sliding blocks, slidably locked thereon, each sliding block having a rotatable lever with an eccentric forward portion which, upon rotation thereof into the locking position will mate with one of the channels in the continuous track and lock the sliding at such point. Bumper assemblies or the like are then attached by means of ropes or the like to the lever and hang downwardly at the desired height. It can be seen, that upon removal of the bumpers, no unslightly equipment appears on the boat sides, such bumpers being easily removable.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bumper assembly for boats and the like which has greater aesthetic appearance than prior art bumper art assemblies.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bumper assembly for boats and the like which is capable of easy installation and removal.

It is a yet further object of this invention to provide a bumper assembly for boats and the like which is capable of vertical and horizontal positioning.

The above objects and still further objects of this invention will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the following preferred embodiments thereof which are provided by way of example and not by way of limitation wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a boat with the fender assembly of the present invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is a view along the line 22 of FIG. 1 of the bumper assembly of the present invention in the unlocked condition;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 with the bumper assembly in the locked condition;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the bumper assembly of FIGS. 1 to 3 in enlarged assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the bumper assembly of the present invention in the unlocked condition; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in the locked position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a boat I having a bumper assembly 3 from which depend rope or the like 5 for retaining a bumper 7. The bumpers 7 can be suspended from a single sliding block member and rest in a vertical position or be suspended from a pair of adjacent sliding block members and rest in horizontal position, both shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown the gunwale 9 which has an outwardly extending flange portion 1 1 extending beyond the side 13 of the boat. A track 15 having a circular lower portion is secured to the bottom portion of the flange 11 and extends therealong from the rear of the boat forwardly toward the bow. Pairs of screw members 17 or the like secure the continuous track to the under side of the flange l l. The track 15 includes a plurality of depressions 19 therein (best shown in FIG. 4) for receiving an eccentric lever as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

A plurality of sliding block members 21 are positioned on the track 15 and slide along the circular, downwardly depending portion 23 thereof. The slidable block 21 includes a lever arm 25 pivoted thereon at pivot 27 and having an eccentric portion 29 adjacent the pivot 27. The portion of the lever arm 25 remote from the pivot 27 includes an aperture 31 for receiving a rope 5 or the like therein.

The slidable members 21 can be positioned onto the track 15 at a track end, such as at the rear of the boat, and slide therealong to the desired position. At this point, the lever 25 will be rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 whereupon the eccentric portion 29 of the lever 25 will extend into the groove 19 and thereby lock the sliding block in that position. A rope or the like 5 is passed through the aperture 31 of the lever 25, the rope being secured to a bumper 7 as best shown in FIG. 1. The weight of the rope 5 and bumper 7 will retain the lever 25 in the downwardly extending position which is also the locking position for the sliding blocks. In this way, the sliding blocks will be prevented from movement in the horizontal direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention which is similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3. In accordance with the second embodiment, a continuous track 35 defines a groove therein in the shape of a trapezoid 37. A track 35 is secured to the flange 11 in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A slidable block 39 mates with and slides within the trapezoidal groove 37, the slidable block including a pivot 41 at which is mounted a lever 43 having an eccentric portion 45. Grooves 47 are positioned at spaced points in one side of the track, the lever arm 43, when placed in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 6, extending into the groove 47 to lock a slidable block to the track 35 in that position. The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 are otherwise operated in identical manner with the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4.

Though the invention has been described with respect to specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hull and a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track member secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, at least one block member engaged with said track member for slidable movement therealong, the track and block members being provided with mutually interengaging means for maintaining them in slidable and inseparable relation, and means swingably mounted on said at least one block member to engage the track member for locking said block member thereto.

2. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a second block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said second block member for locking said second block member to said track.

3. A bumper assembly as in claim 1 wherein the track member is provided with means interengaging with the swingably mounted means when it is moved to a predetermined position relative to the block member for locking it.

4. A bumper assembly as in claim 3 wherein the swingable means is provided with means for suspending a bumper therefrom, the swingable means being maintained in the predetermined position by the weight of the bumper.

5. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hull and a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, a block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said block member for locking said block member to said track, said track includes a plurality of spaced grooves therein, said means for locking engaging said grooves.

6. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for locking includes a lever pivoted for movement on said block member, said lever mating with one of said grooves when positioned vertically.

7. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lever includes a protrusion at one end thereof for mating with one of said grooves.

8. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the other end of said lever includes means for receiving a bumper.

9. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving a bumper comprises an aperture, said bumper assembly further including a bumper and means securing said bumper to said aperture.

10. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hulland a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, a block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said block member for locking said block member to said track, a second block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said second block member for locking said second block member to said track, said track including a plurality of spaced grooves therein, said means for locking engaging said grooves.

1 l. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for locking includes a lever pivoted for movement on said block member, said lever mating with one of said grooves when positioned vertically.

12. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lever includes a protrusion at one end thereof for mating with one of said grooves.

13. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein the other end of said lever includes means for receiving a bumper.

14. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for receiving a bumper comprises an aperture, said bumper assembly further includinga bumper and means securing said bumper to said aperture in each of said block members. 

1. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hull and a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track member secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, at least one block member engaged with said track member for slidable movement therealong, the track and block members being provided with mutually interengaging means for maintaining them in slidable and inseparable relation, and means swingably mounted on said at least one block member to engage the track member for locking said block member thereto.
 2. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a second block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said second block member for locking said second block member to said track.
 3. A bumper assembly as in claim 1 wherein the track member is provided with means interengaging with the swingably mounted means when it is moved to a predetermined position relative to the block member for locking it.
 4. A bumper assembly as in claim 3 wherein the swingable means is provided with means for suspending a bumper therefrom, the swingable means being maintained in the predetermined position by the weight of the bumper.
 5. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hull and a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, a block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said block member for locking said block member to said track, said track includes a plurality of spaced grooves therein, said means for locking engaging said grooves.
 6. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for locking includes a lever pivoted for movement on said block member, said lever mating with one of said grooves when positioned vertically.
 7. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lever includes a protrusion at one end thereof for mating with one of said grooves.
 8. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the other end of said lever includes means for receiving a bumper.
 9. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving a bumper comprises an aperture, said bumper assembly further including a bumper and means securing said bumper to said aperture.
 10. A bumper assembly for a boat having a hull and a flange member extending along the length of said hull and outwardly therefrom, comprising a continuous track secured to said flange member and extending along said flange member, a block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said block member for locking said block member to said track, a second block member slidably engaged with said track and slidable therealong, and means on said second block member for locking said second block member to said track, said track including a plurality of spaced grooves therein, said means for locking engaging said grooves.
 11. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for locking includes a lever pivoted for movement on said block member, said lever mating with one of said grooves when positioned vertically.
 12. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lever includes a protrusion at one end thereof for mating with one of said grooves.
 13. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein the other end of said lever includes means for receiving a bumper.
 14. A bumper assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for receiving a bumper comprises an aperture, said bumper assembly further including a bumper and means securing said bumper to said aperture in each of said block members. 